Herbert Flam (1928–1980)

Tennis player (ranked as high as world #4)[71]

What is Herbert Flam (1928–1980) known for?

Herbert Flam was an illustrious American tennis player and proud alumni of Beverly Hills High School in Beverly Hills, California. Born on November 7, 1928 in New York City, Flam was a formidable presence in the tennis world during the mid-20th century. He turned professional in the sport in 1945 and retired in 1963. His professional career spanned a remarkable 382 wins to 131 losses. Throughout his career, Flam also won 20 career titles.

In 1957, Flam reached the height of his career when he was ranked as the World No. 4 amateur by Lance Tingay, a respected tennis analyst. This solidified his status as one of the leading tennis players during that period. Throughout his career, Flam made significant achievements in various Grand Slam tournaments. He reached the finals at the US Open in 1950 and the French Open in 1957. He also made a strong showing at Wimbledon, reaching the semifinals in 1951 and 1952, and at the Australian Open, reaching the semifinals in 1956.

In addition to his individual accomplishments, Flam also displayed excellent teamwork. He was a key part of the Davis Cup team that won the prestigious tournament in 1956 and 1957.

Even after his passing on November 25, 1980, Flam's legacy continues to thrive in the tennis world. His notable contributions to the sport were recognized posthumously with several Hall of Fame inductions. In 1987, he was inducted into the International Tennis Association Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame, followed by his induction to the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1990, the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1992, and the University of California at Los Angeles' Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2017, he was further honored with an induction into the Southern California Tennis Association Hall of Fame.